Frequently Asked Questions

The Register of Deeds office acts as a record keeping office only.

North Carolina General Statutes specifically prohibit the Register of Deeds or their staff from practicing law. We are unable to supply legal forms, provide instructions on drafting or completing forms, or answer questions regarding the legal consequences of instruments filed. We advise you to consult an attorney if you have any legal questions.

Yes, all records filed in the Register of Deeds office are public records and available to anyone. The only records with restricted access are military discharges due to the sensitive nature of these documents.

Since all documents filed in the Register of Deeds office are public record, anyone may view or obtain a copy of these records. However, only the individual, their immediate family member, an authorized agent, or legal representative may obtain a certified copy of a vital record. These documents can be purchased in person, online, or through the mail. For more information, please visit our Vital Records page or call (828) 250-4300.

As of January 1, 2014, citizens in North Carolina who wish to vote but do not have a photo ID can visit the Register of Deeds office to acquire a free birth or marriage certificate if needed to obtain a state-issued ID for voting purposes.

When you come, you must bring at least two of the following documents for verification:

income tax return or W-2 form,

car registration or title,

utility bill,

bank statement,

government check,

pay check stub,

government document,

state-issued concealed weapon permit,

prison identification card,

college or school identification,

college or school transcript,

or North Carolina voter identification card.

If you have further questions about this process, please call (828) 250-4300. For more information about the Voter Information Verification Act, please visit the NC Board of Elections website.

If you are having difficulty viewing images, you may need to update to a modern browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer 9 and 10 should work fine as well. You may click on the highlighted link above to download Chrome for free. For further questions, please call (828) 250-4302.

The Register of Deeds office records Certificates of Assumed Name (DBAs) but not business licenses. For a business within the city of Asheville, you may need to obtain a business license (Privilege License) from the City of Asheville’s Development Services Department. Please find more information online or by calling (828) 259-5846. If you have additional questions about starting a business in Buncombe County, we encourage you to visit Business Link North Carolina for more information.

MARRIAGE AND NAME CHANGE QUESTIONS:

Once you obtain a marriage license, marriages can be performed by a civil magistrate on the 4th floor of the Buncombe County Courthouse. The magistrate is generally available to perform marriages on weekdays at 8:30 am and 3:00 pm. However, this is not always the case, so it is advisable to call the magistrate's office before arriving to ensure that he will be available. The fee is $20, payable in cash only. For more information, please call the magistrate's office at (828) 259-3407.

If you would like to get married after business hours or on the weekend, you may be able to do so by a criminal magistrate at the Buncombe County Jail. Please contact the criminal magistrate’s office at (828) 250-4690 for more information.

First, please obtain a certified copy of your marriage license from the Register of Deeds Office. You must then present this document along with other required documentation to the Social Security Administration. Once you have applied for a social security card in your new name, you may visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to update your driver license.
Social Security Administration
800 Centre Park Drive
Asheville, NC 28805
1-866-572-8361https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/Controller
DMV — Driver License Office
1624 Patton Avenue, DMV Building
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 251-6065http://ncdot.gov/dmv/contact/?o=1&c=Buncombe

A legal name change is done through a Court Order which must be obtained through the Clerk of Court’s office, Special Proceedings Division. Please find more information online or by calling (828) 259-3400.

While many people believe that you receive your deed once your mortgage is paid off, you actually should have received your deed at the time you closed on your home or property. When you have paid off your mortgage, your lender will send us a document called a Certificate of Satisfaction to be recorded. Typically lenders request that we send this Satisfaction document back to them after recording.

If you would like a copy of your deed or satisfaction, please use our Online Document Search Tool or contact our office and we'll be happy to send it to you.

The Register of Deeds is prohibited by law to perform a title search. If you wish to see if there are liens on a property, we encourage you to seek the advice of an attorney. You may also contact the Buncombe County Clerk of Court at 828-259-3400 for judgment information.

The records in the Register of Deeds office are searchable by name only. If you would like to find ownership information by property address, please refer to the Land Records Department online or by calling 828-250-4900.